A resilient founder, Haadiyah Flagg, carved out space in the skin care industry with Glow With Purpose

Image Credit: Haadiyah Flagg

Haadiyah Flagg embarked on a journey different from that of the average person. She was on a mission to change the game with her skincare brand, Glow With Purpose.

Her journey as a founder began with a personal search for confidence and comfort in her own skin and evolved into a purpose-driven business centered on self-care and community.

Flagg, who is from upstate New York and was raised in Rochester after being born in Syracuse, said her journey into skin care started with experimentation at home while trying to address changes in her skin. That search began after becoming a mother at a young age, when physical changes left her feeling disconnected from her body.

“I just felt really insecure and didn’t feel like myself,” Flagg said.

Image Credit: Haadiyah Flagg

She tested do-it-yourself mixtures such as coffee grounds, olive oil and lemon juice, hoping to improve texture and tone.

“It was a mess,” Flagg said, recalling coffee grounds scattered throughout the bathtub. 

The skin care founder said she tried widely available products, including cocoa butter, shea butter and Bio-Oil, but remained discouraged by inconsistent results. She later sought professional consultations and said professionals advised that surgery was the only option.

“That was very discouraging for me, and it was so scary,” Flagg said. 

Image Credit: Glow With Purpose Skincare

Over time, Flagg said she shifted her focus toward stability and improving her confidence and mental health while balancing work and early motherhood. Entrepreneurship gradually became a path forward rather than a distant goal. 

She credited her mother’s continued support and the early exposure to beauty spaces, which helped shape her long-term vision.

Flagg said her mother worked as a Mary Kay consultant, and she assisted at skincare parties and makeovers, where she saw how personal care could transform how people felt about themselves.

“I’ve seen how the transformation in people lit them up,” Flagg said.

She also recalled doing hair in high school and watching a client cry after seeing her finished look in the mirror. That moment, she said, helped clarify her purpose.

“That just stuck with me,” Flagg emphasized. “That became my purpose.”

Image Credit: Glow With Purpose Skincare

While she said she respects Mary Kay’s legacy, Flagg wanted a different structure for her own brand.

“I didn’t want to feel like I’m chasing people. I had my own vision in mind.” She said. 

Flagg relocated from New York to Pennsylvania around 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was driven by a desire to build a life shaped by entrepreneurship. The transition required persistence and resourcefulness, qualities she said now define Glow With Purpose.

Her first product concept was an oil cleanser, developed while she was living in a Pennsylvania hotel and dealing with severe dryness, patches and bumps she associated with stress and environmental changes. 

Creating something restorative that aligned with her values was a personal mission for Flagg.

Image Credit: Glow With Purpose Skincare

Without a kitchen available to create products herself, Flagg researched manufacturers and partnered with a company to develop the cleanser and additional products.

“I outsourced my products, and I found the right partnership,” she shared.

In the early stages, Flagg operated the business alone. She handled research, branding and marketing and launched a personal development podcast, recording episodes in a hotel stairwell when she needed a quiet space.

Today, Flagg positions Glow With Purpose as a lifestyle brand rooted in ritual rather than routine. She said she wants customers to experience accessible luxury at home and to view skin care as part of a conscious, holistic lifestyle.

“I want this brand to feel like a ritual, and not a chore.” The entrepreneur said.

Glow With Purpose products are vegan and formulated without parabens or silicones. Flagg said the line is backed by science, noting that some compounds are not fully plant-derived but are selected for efficacy and safety.

She promotes the brand through vendor events, speaking engagements and digital platforms, including TikTok Shop and YouTube, where she focuses on education around skin care and intentional self-care.

Image Credit: Glow With Purpose Skincare

“People don’t just go out and buy products just because,” Flagg said. “It starts within your mind first.”

Some of the most meaningful responses, she said, come through word of mouth and customer testimonials, particularly when event organizers seek out her products after hearing about their effectiveness.

“The product started selling itself,” Flagg said, describing supporters who began regularly purchasing her products and reported improvements such as reduced inflammation and calmer breakouts.

The entrepreneur acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the financial strain of keeping inventory stocked while sustaining growth. She said she is learning to recognize different seasons in business and respond with patience rather than panic.

“Financially, it has been a struggle for me, but ut I know that’s something I will overcome.” She said. 

Exploring new ways to scale and obtain extra support, including relaunching an ambassador team, is a major goal for the business owner. 

Image Credit: Haadiyah Flagg

Scaling quickly has been a strategic process and a bit of a challenge, similar to how she describes entrepreneurship, a process defined by trial and error. 

When asked what advice she would offer young Black entrepreneurs, Flagg emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care and mental health.

“Start with you first. When you pour from an empty cup, you become depleted.” Flagg eagerly shared.

She encouraged building community when support is limited and leading with integrity and accountability.

“Self-care is not selfish,” Flagg said. “Once people are able to gain from your overflow, that’s when the magic happens.”

Glow With Purpose products are available online. More information about the brand’s philosophy and its full product line can be found on the company’s website, where customers can purchase products directly.

Image Credit: Haadiyah Flagg